The only 18-year-old Jordan Stolz has stirred up the speed skating world championships in Heerenveen. Four times gold – the comparisons also reach for the top shelf.
Eric Heiden was probably the most obvious comparison and a real accolade. Like Jordan Stolz, the five-time Olympic speed skating champion comes from the US state of Wisconsin. Like the new shooting star of the scene in 2023, he was also able to win the junior and senior world championship title over a single distance in the same year.
The latter alone makes Stolz, together with Eric Heiden and his sister Beth, an extraordinary athlete. Because apart from these three, no one else has succeeded in this sport.
From World Cup debut to four-time World Champion in just 15 months
Stolz’ rise that winter was rocket-like. For the first time he attracted attention beyond his national borders in 2020 in the Junior World Cup – but without appearing in the lists of winners. That all changed a year later when – after a growth spurt and with a significantly more powerful physique – he won his first adult title in March 2021 at the age of 16.
In December 2021, Stolz, son of a German father, celebrated his World Cup debut. He qualified for the Beijing Winter Olympics in the 500 and 1,000 meters, where he finished 13th and 14th. At the Sprint World Championships a few weeks later, he was already getting a taste of medals.
Only the youngest World Cup winner, now the youngest individual world champion
Then, in November 2022, the final breakthrough: Stolz, who, according to his father, never practiced any other sport than speed skating from an early age, became the youngest man to win a World Cup individual race over 1,500 meters in Stavanger, Norway, and suddenly found himself among the world elite.
Stolz was able to win four World Cup races this season (two each over 1,000 and 1,500 meters), and last month he also dominated the Junior World Championships in Inzell.
“Dutch Fright” in Heerenveen
And now four world titles! With the victory over the 500 meters in Heerenveen Stolz advanced to the “Dutch fright”, but above all to the youngest world champion in speed skating. Until then, the Czech Martina Sablikova, aged 19, was the youngest individual gold medalist to date. He then went on to win the men’s 1,000m, 1,500m and team sprint titles, as well as bronze in the other two individual disciplines, the 5,000m and the mass start.
In May, the celebrated World Cup star celebrates his 19th birthday. If he is spared from injuries and remains so ambitious, Jordan Stolz from Kewaskum/Wisconsin could dominate the competition on the ice ovals of the world in the coming years like no other athlete has in a long time.
Accolade by ex-world champion Dubreuil
One such was Eric Heiden, who won five Olympic gold medals in Lake Placid in 1980, covering all individual distances from the 500 to the 10,000 meters. By the way, the comparison with Heiden was drawn by the Dutch speed skating coach Gerard Kemkers. The former Canadian world champion Laurent Dubreuil, who was dethroned in the 500 meters, reached for something similar: “He’s incredible. It’s like trying to beat Michael Jordan or something.” After “air“now on”ice Jordan”? More accolade is really hardly possible.